Remote control swivel mounting for boom-supported microphones



Oct. 17, 1950 E. A. DICKINSON ETAL 2,526,604

REMOTE CONTROL SWIVEL mouuwma FOR BOOM-SUPPORTED MICROPHONES Filed Oct.24, 1946 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTORS. EDWIN A. DICKINSON Y GEORGE L.PRQSS ATTORNEY Oct. 17, I950 E. A. DICKINSON ETAL REMOTE CONTROL SWIVELMOUNTING FOR BOOM-SUPPORTED MICROPHONES.

Filed Oct. 24, 1946 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTORS. EDWIN A. DICKINSONGEORGE L. PROSS W ATTORNEY Patented Oct. 17, 1950 REE [GTECQNTROLSVVIVEL MOUNTING FOR BQOM- SUPPORTED MICROPHONES Edwin A.Bickinson, Verona, N. .i'g'and George L.

Press, Valley Stream, N. Y., assignors to Reeves- Ely Laboratories,Inc., New York, N. Y., a corporaticn of New York Application 0ctober 24,1946, Serial No. 705,418

This invention relates to a microphone swivel and more particularly tothe type adapted to effectively support a microphone from a boom orother similar supporting structure.

In recent years, it has been the common practice in the motion pictureand radio broadcasting industries to support the microphone above theactors so that the desired dialogue will be properly picked up. Thisapparatus usually consisted of a long pole with a hook at one endthereof and from which the microphonewas suspended. This was carriedfrom place to place as desired and turned about from time to time inorder to always keep the microphone above and in front of the actorspeaking, but out of the range of the camera or other stage equipment.

It is imperative that the microphone always face the actor in order thatthe dialogue will be properly recorded thereby. Since it is well knownthat the actors, particularly in the movie industry, are always movingabout on the' stage during the course of their performance, it isessential therefor that the microphone which is suspended from a boom orother supporting structure be supported in such a manner that themicrophone proper can be turned about in order that it will face theactor at all times. This obviously necessitates a turning movement ofthe microphone to substantially a 360 angle since the actor may becompelled to walk about 3 With the above in view, the primary-object ofthis invention is to provide a microphone swivel capable of beingsuspended from a microphone boom or other supporting structure and whichwill be so connected thereon that it will be capable of rotation from aremote point and out of range of the camera when used in making soundmotion pictures.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent froma consideration of the following detailed description taken inconnection with the accompanying drawings wherein a satisfactoryembodiment of the invention is shown. However, it is to be understoodthat the invention is not limited to the details disclosed but includesall variations and modifications as 1 Claim. (Cl. 179-152) from an angleof about 45.

fall within the spirit of the invention andv the scope of the appendedclaim.

In the drawings: V b

Fig. l is a front elevational view showing a microphone suspended on theswivel of the invention;

Fig. 2 is a side elevational view of the microphone swivel and mounting,parts being broken away;

Fig. 3 is a bottom plan view with parts broken away; and

Fig. 4 is a detail sectional View taken on line 44 of Fig. 3 looking inthe direction of the arrows.

From past experience, it has been found tha 'the most advantageousposition for the recording microphone, when recording sound motionpictures, is pointing directly down at the speaker This is easilyaccomplished when there is only one speaker or actor on the stage withinrange of the camera. If there are a number of speakers or actors on thestage within range of the camera, the microphone must be turned quicklyfrom one to the other in order to follow the conversation. Also, asstated previously, the microphone should always be pointing directly atthe speaker.

Toaccomplish the above, there is provided a microphone swivel includinga stationary part including an upstanding eyelet l8 adapted to beconnected in any well known manner .to the microphone boom or othersimilar supporting structure. A bearing holder It includes a bolt 9 towhich the eyelet I0 is threaded with a cover or shell 62 interposedbetween the bearing holder and the eyelet. In this manner, the bearingholder H, covering or casing member [2 and eyeletmember [8 areeffectively retained in proper working assembly. The cover may bestamped or drawn of sheet metal or may be molded of bakelite or otherplastic material.

A ball bearing race 13 is retained upon the lower portion of the bearingholder H by means of a nut M engaging an externally threaded shank I5extending from the lower portion of the aforementioned bearing holder.Fitted on the ball race l3 and thereby mounted for free rotation withinthe casing or cover [2 is a rotor iii. A flexible element H, as a cordor string, has one of its ends secured at 8 to the rotor 16 and iswrapped about the rotor being received as in a groove I. The other endof element or means I! extends outwardly to some remote point convenientfor manipulation.

The rotor I6 is turnable on the ball bearing mounting against the actionof a spring member 18, by pulling on the element 17. One end of spring18 is secured to a stud-like extension I9 of the threaded shank [5, asshown in Fig. 3 of the drawing, and the other end of said spring issecured to a bolt 20 carried by the rotor. As herein illustrated, theinner end of the spring is anchored by being received in a kerf or slotin the stud-like extension l9. This spring is normally under sometension and is adapted to be wound and put under further tension on themeans I! being pulled and the rotor 15 rotated.

The return rotation of the rotor l5 under the action of spring member i8is limited by reason of stopper member 2| contacting the entrance tube22 which is formed with the wall of the cover or casing member i 2. Asthe eyelet [0, bearing holder l! and casing or housing l2, are fixedtogether and held by a boom or the like, it

Will be clear that the microphone can be rotated relative to such parts,and from a remote point, by pulling on the means ll. Further, themicrophone and the rotor will be returned to or toward whatever positionthe operator sees fit under the action of the tensioned spring memberl8. This return movement will be limited by the stopper member 2|contacting the tube member 22.

A plate 23 forms the bottom closure for the swivel housing I2. The plate23 is maintained in proper position on the casing or housing by means ofinsulating blocks 24 threaded or molded or otherwise secured on studs25threaded into the rotor member I6. Insulating blocks 26 are providedwith or carry threaded studs 26 for engagement with an inverted V-shapedframe 21 supporting a microphone 28 on a pair of trunnions 29 havingknurled tightening nuts. The insulating blocks 24 not only properlyinsulate the swivel from the microphone id, but they also form effectivemeans for cushioning or dampening any vibration which might be impartedto the microphone by reason of the supporting boom being moved aboutfrom place to place.

In the operation of the device, the microphone 28 is set at the desiredangle and position in frame 21 and the knurled nuts of trunnions 29tightened. The eyelet iii supporting the swivel and microphone attachedthereto is secured to the microphone boom or other supporting structure.As it is found necessary to move the microphone from one position to theother, the means I! is manipulated to rotate the microphone on theswivel whereby to keep the microphone facing in the desired direction.

When it is found necessary to return the microphone to or toward itsoriginal position in order to keep the microphone facing in the properdirection, the cord [7 is released and, since the rotor was rotatedagainst the action of spring l8 when the cord was pulled, the rotor willreturn under action of the spring to or toward its 4 original position.It will be seen, therefore, that the microphone can be rotated from aremote point by operation of the cord member I! and in this manner themicrophone can always be maintained facing the actor or person on thestage.

Preferably the means I! comprises a length,

of stout cord so there will be no sound made by it running out of thehousing or casing I 2. However, the invention is not limited to such astructure since a covered or mufiied chain could also be used.Additionally, it is pointed out that in lieu of a metallic spring I8some form of elastic may be used. Thus, for silence, a length of rubbermight be used to turn the microphone back to or toward normal position.Therefore, where the word spring is used in the following claim, it isto be taken in a comprehensive sense to include any means orconstruction for accomplishing the desired results.

Having thus set forth the nature of our invention, what we claim is:

In a mounting for suspending a microphone from a supporting boom and thelike, a casing comprising a housing including a top and side walls andopen through its underside, means on the outer side of said top wall forfixedly supporting said housing from a boom, a stud rigid with saidhousing and depending from the lower side of said top Wall, a rotorwithin said housing, bearing means rotatably mounting said rotor on saidstud, mounting means rigid with said rotor and extending through thelower open side of said housing and adapted to have a microphone securedthereto, said rotor having a socket opening through one side of itsmid-portion and into which said stud projects, a spring in said socketand anchored at one end to said rotor and at its other end to said stud,a flexible element entering said housing through a side wall thereofand-carried partly about and anchored to said rotor whereby a pull onsaid element will result in rotation of said rotor in one directionabout said stud and in opposition to said spring and thereafter onrelease of said element said spring will rotate said rotor in theopposite direction, and stop means to limit turning movement of saidrotor by said spring.

' EDWIN A. DICIUNSON.

GEORGE L. PRO-SS.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,122,778 Mueller July 5, 19382,421,437 Ryan June 3, 1947 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 243,248Great Britain c- Nov. 26, 1925

